Irish League Football

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A disappointed Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton felt his side did not do enough to secure a third Irish Cup final appearance in a row as he watched his side lose out on penalties to Dungannon Swifts in Friday's semi-final.

It was a similar story to last year's final for the Reds as they once again lost 4-3 on spot kicks following a 1-1 draw after extra-time.

Although the north Belfast side made a good start to the game and showed plenty of fight to force an equaliser in the dying act of extra time, Magilton felt they left too many opportunities behind them.

"Dungannon deserved to win the game," the Cliftonville manager told BBC Sport NI.

"We played well in patches in the first half, created one or two really good opportunities, but in big games you need to be clinical and if you don't take your opportunities it can come back and cost you.

"You have to credit the lads for keeping going. It's dying embers, nothing left in the game but they drag it into penalties, get regrouped but unfortunately we missed and they didn't - same as last year.

"We're disappointed as we didn't play as well as we did in the first 45 minutes. I thought we could have kicked on but we didn't."

If Cliftonville are to secure European football next season, they will have to do so through the end of season play-offs but Magilton admits "it will be very difficult".

The Reds host title-chasing Glentoran on Tuesday [19:45 BST] and he accepts he will be going into that game with a depleted squad.

"We've walking wounded, lads gave everything tonight so we will struggle.

"Tuesday is going to be a big ask for us as we have players we can't carry, so we will be down bodies."

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Dungannon Swifts midfielder Gael Bigirimana cut a delighted figure as his side came through on penalties to return to the Irish Cup final, but admits Cliftonville's late equaliser for force spot kicks "got to me".

It seemed the holders were on their way when Kealon Dillon fired home in the first period of extra time following a scoreless 90 minutes, but the north Belfast side scrambled home an equaliser in the last act.

It could have proven to be a hammer blow to the Dungannon side, but they regrouped to hold their nerve and keep their hopes of back to back Irish Cups alive.

"I'm an optimistic person but that goal got to me," Bigirimana told BBC Sport NI.

"It was almost like 'maybe this isn't going to be our day' because we've had chances and then to concede like that.

"The gaffer got us into a huddle and reminded us of what is happening outside of football and how precious life is. We wanted to do it for ourselves, our families, our kids and the community.

"Sometimes when you have achieved something big, the mentality, determination and disciple to go even further is not easy, we've put ourselves in another final."

Dungannon made a slow start to the season, but have ensured a top-half finish in the league and are 90 minutes away from another Irish Cup triumph.

"We don't know how to make it easy on ourselves," Bigirimana continued.

"It's been a tough season as a part-time club. We were delighted to have the Conference [League] experience but the season didn't start well for us with injuries, some players stepping out and new ones coming in.

"To have the type of season we've head is really proud for the club at the club."

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Larne boss Gary Haveron said his side are out to banish bad memories of their previous Irish Cup semi-final defeat when they face Coleraine in the last four on Saturday, a game that will be live on the BBC iPlayer.

The Inver Reds, who have never won the Irish Cup, lost 2-0 to eventual winners Cliftonville at Windsor Park in their previous semi-final appearance in 2024.

And Haveron, who was part of Larne's coaching staff that day, wants his side to right the wrongs from their poor performance that day and progress to the decider where they will face the Reds or holders Dungannon Swifts,

"Last semi-final we played in against Cliftonville we didn't do ourselves justice I hope this time we can erase that from our memory and give the supporters something to look forward to Saturday," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Semi-finals are all about getting to the final any which way they'll come. We know it's going to be really difficult ask.

"Coleraine are a top side, a lot has been made of the amount of players and quality they've brought in this year, so we'll have it all to do but it's a challenge we look forward to. We want to to play the best teams and be involved in games that matter."

Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins, who guided Derry City to an FAI Cup win in 2022 is hoping to guide Coleraine to a first Irish Cup victory since 2018, but he knows league leaders Larne pose a huge threat to that dream.

"It's exciting and it's going to be difficult for sure," he said.

"It's what we want to be part of and why I joined the club and why a lot of the players have. We have an opportunity against a really good side who have had an amazing season.

"They'll get our full respect but it's a cup semi-final and we want to progress and give everyone in Coleraine a big day out. We have to be prepared to our maximum and go do ourselves proud."

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Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree said it is "going to be extremely difficult" for his side to progress past Cliftonville in their Irish Cup semi-final.

The holders meet the Reds at Windsor Park on Friday in a game that will be live on BBC iPlayer in a repeat of last year's final which the Swifts won on penalties to clinch the Irish Cup for the first time.

With Larne or Coleraine to come in the decider if they get there, McAree knows his side face a tough task to retain the trophy, but he wants a big performance against Cliftonville to keep Swifts fans dreaming of the making that a possibility.

"If you don't win a semi-final you don't have those memories [of winning a final]," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We are as strong as we can be and we know whoever gets to the final from our semi-final is going to have a real big task in terms of winning the cup this season. There are four really good teams left.

"A lot of players and people around the club have really good memories of what we did last season and we want to give ourselves the opportunity of maybe dreaming of that again, but if we don't win this game we don't have that opportunity so full focus goes onto Cliftonville.

"It would mean everything to have a big day to look forward to, but it's going to be extremely difficult."

Cliftonville are aiming to reach a third successive Irish Cup final under Jim Magilton.

Winners in 2024, the Reds are sixth in the Irish Premiership table, one point behind the Swifts and former Northern Ireland international Magilton believes the two sides are "well matched".

"It's two sides that will go into the game full of great intentions to get to another final," he continued.

"We know and respect what Dungannon can bring to the game, they have many, many strengths and we've got to withstand that and we have to come out with the strength our team have."

Steven Crawford
BBC Sport NI

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It's the business end of the Irish Premiership campaign as the post-split fixtures get under way with plenty to be decided at either end of the table.

Not only is the destination of the Gibson Cup and a place in the Champions League qualifiers up for grabs, but also a place in the Conference League qualifiers for the runners-up and European play-off winners.

The top four are all still in with a shout of lifting the title with Larne in the box seat to secure a third Irish Premiership crown in four years after they extended their lead at the summit following their victory at Glenavon last time out.

Gary Haveron's side kick-off the first of their final five games at home to Cliftonville, aiming to maintain their four-point advantage over nearest challengers Glentoran.

It doesn't come any bigger for Declan Devine's side on Saturday as they host 'Big Two' rivals Linfield knowing they cannot afford any slip-ups in their bid to secure a first league title since 2008-09.

Third-place Coleraine are breathing down their necks with only four points separating themselves and the Glens in the table, with reigning champions Linfield in fourth still hoping they can overhaul the teams above them, although they are three worse off than the Bannsiders.

Irish Cup semi-finalists Cliftonville and Dungannon Swifts make up the top six and they will be jockeying for fifth position and the potential home advantage in the end-of-season play-offs that could bring in their remaining five games, with the Reds currently occupying fifth place.

In the bottom half of the table, there are four teams still in with a shout with securing the final spot in the European play-offs.

With the County Antrim Shield already in the bag, Carrick Rangers will be aiming to cap a great season by sealing seventh place.

But Bangor, Portadown and Ballymena United will be hoping they can reel in Stephen Baxter's side over the last five games.

It's all about survival at the foot of the table with one point currently separating Crusaders from bottom club Glenavon.

Both sides will be targeting 11th place to take on Championship opposition in the relegation/promotion play-off with 12th place automatically dropping out of the Premiership and into the second tier.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Coleraine have confirmed that striker James Akintunde will undergo surgery after sustaining an ankle fracture-dislocation during Saturday's match against Glentoran.

Akintunde required medical attention during the first minute of the game at the Oval after a collision in the Glentoran box.

The 29-year-old joined Coleraine in January from Finnish side Haka and had previously played under Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins at Derry City.

"Following yesterday's match at The Oval where James Akintunde was stretched off early in the game, the club can now provide an update on James' condition," a statement on Coleraine's social media read.

"On arrival at hospital, a full x-ray and further assessments were carried out where it was confirmed that James suffered an ankle fracture-dislocation. This is a very significant and serious injury which will carry a long recovery time. James will now be transferred to Derry/Londonderry where he will undergo surgery in the coming days."

Akintunde has scored two goals since joining the club, who thanked the medical professionals, stewards, staff and fans for their support.

"Our thanks go to all of the medical professionals, stewards and staff both at The Oval and at the hospital for their care and attention to James," the statement continued.

"The focus of everybody at the club is on giving James the support he needs during this very difficult time for him.

"We would finally like to thank both sets of supporters for their support to James inside the stadium as he was taken from the field of play."

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The five sets of post-split fixtures for the concluding weeks of the Irish Premiership season have been confirmed.

The first set of games on Saturday 28 March will see top flight leaders Larne face Cliftonville at Inver Park, while second-placed Glentoran will entertain big Belfast rivals Linfield at the Oval.

Dungannon Swifts are at home to Coleraine in the other top six game. Meanwhile in the bottom six, Carrick Rangers are at home to Crusaders.

Ballymena United will host Bangor and Glenavon will face Portadown one week later on Saturday 4 April because of international call-ups.

The second set of games on Tuesday 7 April will have 19:45 BST kick-off times and will see BBC Sport NI provide live coverage of Larne v Coleraine, with Larne's visit to Windsor Park to play Linfield on Saturday 11 April (13:00 BST) also broadcast live across BBC Sport NI.

Glentoran, who sit second going into the split, are at home to Larne in another game you can see across BBC Sport NI on Friday 17 April.

On the final Saturday of the league season, 25 April, the three bottom six fixtures will kick off at 15:00 BST, with the three matches involving the teams in the top six starting at 17:30.

You can view the full set of post-split Irish Premiership fixtures as provided by the Northern Ireland Football League here, external.